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Chamber News

Disjointed Traffic Planning Will Damage Dublin

Feb 23, 2017

Dublin Chamber of Commerce has hit out at the piecemeal way in which Dublin’s transport network is being planned.

The Chamber's reaction came after Dublin City Council, at a meeting of its Transportation Strategic Policy Committee on Thursday afternoon, unveiled proposals to block private cars from travelling between Bachelors Walk and Eden Quay.

The Chamber said it is concerned about a lack of critically-needed information on alternative routes for private vehicle users who will be displaced from the city centre as a result of a triple-whammy of major traffic changes, namely: the proposed changes to College Green; the proposed Liffey Cycle Route; and the proposed changes to the North and South Quays.

According to Graeme McQueen, Dublin Chamber's Head of Public Affairs: "Everyone accepts that change is required to the way in which Dublin city centre functions, particularly as a result of the new Luas Cross City line. The Council has proposed a number of individual plans for the city centre, but there is a lack of clarity about how and whether the changes will all work together. An Economic Impact Assessment has been commissioned for College Green. Such an assessment in isolation is pointless. A combined Economic Impact Assessment should be carried on all three projects and examine what impact the three proposed plans will have on the entire city, out to the M50. Also, the Council says it has done modelling work to show what impact the displacement of cars will have. This data should be made publicly available."

The Chamber has warned that there is high concern amongst businesses regarding how the city centre is going to function in both the short and medium-term. These doubts are leading to high levels of uncertainty and preventing companies from making investment decisions, the Chamber said.

Mr McQueen added: "All of the proposed changes have the aim of cutting down the number of cars coming into the city centre and getting more people to use public transport. Yet, at the same time, the amount of money being invested in public transport is way below what is required. Congestion costs rank in the top three concerns of business owners and their employees. Members of the Chamber have relocated outside of the city centre as a result of increasing congestion. To avoid the desertion of the city centre, it must be possible to move in and around the Capital.”

The Dublin Chamber of Commerce (Incorporated) is a company limited by guarantee, registered in Dublin, Ireland, Number 588. Registered Office is 7 Clare Street, Dublin 2. Dublin Chamber of Commerce is a member of Chambers Ireland